Radio Horton commemorates VE Day with Absolute Radio special programme

Anchored by popular broadcasters including Dave Berry, Jason Manford, Leona Graham and Claire Sturgess, listeners are invited to be taken back to the 1940s to celebrate VE Day, with archive interviews, news bulletins and first-hand accounts from veterans and their families.

Listeners can hear the programme today on Friday May 8 - VE Day from 11:00am to 3pm.

Listeners will be treated to music from names including Dame Vera Lynn, Billie Holliday, The Andrews Sisters, Judy Garland, Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Gracie Fields, Benny Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey.

People can also hear veterans tell their stories and from the organisations which help those who were impacted.

Paul Sylvester, Absolute Radio’s content director said: “As a nation, we must embrace that wartime spirit right now as we manoeuvre through these difficult times.

"At Absolute Radio we wanted to do something special for VE Day and we’re proud to be swapping Foo Fighters for Vera Lynn for one day only.

"Our aim is to reach as many people as possible who are self-isolating and whose celebrations have been postponed.

"As many of you know, hospital radio means a massive amount to me personally (thanks to my time at Scunthorpe Hospital Radio) and I wanted to be able to reach out and use our platform to share this project with you and your audiences.

“I hope you and your listeners enjoy the show, the music, the stories and that it adds to your already brilliant programming.

"Until we meet again – stay safe, take care, big love and thanks for your work in entertaining the patients.”

With the current Coronavirus crisis impacting the planned nationwide celebrations, the programme will include music from across the decade, making it the UK’s biggest virtual self-isolation street party.

Radio Horton Trustee, Sam Smette said: “We are delighted to be simulcasting this programme from our friends at Absolute Radio, a household station across the UK. Sharing these powerful and emotional stories from our veterans is crucial and it is important that the media plays its part in captivating listeners, bringing them a real sense of the history and music from the era.”

“We have also been working with BBC Radio Oxford to share some of their content to our listeners during these challenging times and are working on our fantastic joint venture with local group, Voices Across Time, producing an exclusive programme for local care homes.”

Radio Horton is the hospital, health and wellbeing radio station broadcasting 24-7 to patients at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury and was founded in 1964 by local journalists, Ted Hanson MBE and Graham Wilton broadcasting one weekly programme to listeners.

For more information is available at https://www.radiohorton.co.uk*A message from the Banbury Guardian Editor:

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